NAGPUR: Metro region plan may be restricted to 10km from city boundary as against existing 25km. The state government is likely to instruct the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) for verifying whether revision is possible at this point of time.

The NIT had prepared draft of metro region’s development plan. Suggestions and objections were invited on the draft followed by hearing. Now NIT is preparing replies to all suggestions and objections

After incorporating suggestions in the draft, the NIT will submit it to the state government for final approval. It will be followed by implementation. The NIT had planned to develop metro region covering 3,577 sq km area having 721 villages over seven tehsils of the district. The plan is to develop metro region in two phases — short term plan by 2031 and long term plan by 2061.

Sources told TOI builders and developers were pressing guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to restrict metro region up to 10km only, to which he has assured to look into.

Bawankule told TOI demand is from citizens and others to reduce metro region area. “It needs technical verification. Metro region will be developed in 25km radius from city boundary. We will verify whether 10km radius is possible in the first phase and then remaining 15km in the second phase,” he said.

Prashant Pawar of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan said it would be a big scam in case metro region is restricted to 10km. “We have approached people especially farmers of all 721 villages. Our demand is to quash the draft plan as it is totally flawed and anti-farmer. I have come across information that Bawankule plans to revise the area. The draft plan is being reconsidered only to benefit builders and developers who would be likely losers due to land reservations. Besides, builders and developers want to exploit their properties situated within 10km radius by increasing prices. Therefore, government should not revise the draft and instead set aside the plan,” he said.

Noted architect and activist Pradyumna Sahasrabhojanee said reduction in metro region area up to 10km will be good but it should not be done only to benefit builders and developers. “NIT should take farmers and other villagers into consideration. NIT had held workshops only for developers and builders and prepared the draft plan that is full of flaws,” he said.

Deepak Nilawar, founder of Nagpur Metro Prarup Vikas (arakhada) Virodhi Kruti Samiti (organization formed by builders and developers), said restriction of metro region up to 10km will actually benefit farmers. “Various types of reservations have been placed on farm lands. Farmers are already in big trouble and prone to suicides. Farmers cannot sell their land or develop their properties up to 50 long years. They will have to pay 50% of ready reckoner value of their properties even if they want to submit applications seeking revision in reservation. Large number of farmers and villagers will be free from metro region norms in case it is restricted up to 10km,” he said, also demanding to dump draft plan.

Jai Jawan Jai Kisan has organized a massive rally against draft plan on December 15 in wake of ongoing winter session of state legislature.

In A Nutshell

* Metro region plan is for 25km from city boundary

* Draft plan prepared followed by suggestions and objections, hearings

* Reply to suggestions and objections

* Draft plan to be approved followed by implementation

* Builders and developers demand restricting metro region up to 10km

* Process likely to begin to check whether metro region development up to 10km in first phase and remaining 15km in second phase possible or not